Ani-Pock Podcast update

More Purchases!!!

I remember Pocky did an article on nifty Japanese toilet paper earlier this year.Well...Take a look at this:Yeah, it's manga toilet paper.You'll be the coolest kid on the block, well, with all the hikikomori that is. And that's not just a bad thing, it's a very bad thing...

Get a job!

And then... buy this!The pictures on these sites alone are worth a paycheck or a missed alimony, but for you, nothing! Enjoy!And, while we are on the subject of platinum things we will never need...

You know what that is!

Edit: There's only ever been one manga I've ever thought of as a waste of paper, BTW, but I suppose this puts in to good use. I'll be sure to keep Negima! by the toilet in the future. ^_^

Friday, March 30, 2007

Platinum, a collector's best friend

Heyo persons! Its My first posty and its the best post I could have ever made! Well moving on, this post is about an item costing $250,000, its 5-inches tall, and its a G.U.N.D.A.M! It has diamons for eyes, and may be a possible buy on my list in the near future, but where I'll get $250,000 in cash...^^

Ani-dubbing, episode 2

Alright everyone, after reviewing what I could find I have decided to jump at Mahoraba because, for lack of a better term, it was the only one that made sense in terms of characters and style. I am going to review it once more. If any of you have another idea, speak now. In either case I would prefer it if I did not have to script it myself. Not that I'm lazy, but I just don't want to. Mahoraba has 30+/- characters in it. I'm not sure if they all speak. I suppose we may start tryouts now. If you have would like a specific character, state it at the beginning of your try out.

Format will go...Name(ap name)Character tryout(if there is one)and a voice sample of some basic talking.

I will do my best to judge which character it fits. I cannot make any promises as to getting the part you want. depending on your voice you may have to play a character of the opposite gender so please do not be angry if this is the case. Seeing as how Mahoraba has the whole multiple personality thing going on, I may have each personality voiced by a different person. Please comment on this and please try out. Even if it's for a small part.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Updating the interface!

Ninja Consultant Podcast episode about trip to Japan

The Ninja Consultant's latest episode is about their trip to Japan! I've just finished listening to it and the two are pretty entertaining. They take your through a day by day account, incluing a giant anime convention. I can say that my trip to Japan last summer was pretty much like this, so if you want to know what its like to visit Japan, listen in!

Where's the next Ani-Pock Podcast?

Hey all,I know you've been wondering when the next podcast is. We actually did record one (a super one long at that!) on March 23, but I can't upload it until next week =( I'm on my Spring Break (and thus at home) and I forgot to copy the raw file from my computer up in Northern California. Will edit and upload when I go back! Thank you for waiting, -Pocky

Live action drama coming?

According to Anime Desho Desho (which got it's info from this site), a live action SHnY drama is being planned. The pictures you see above should make the cast. I must say, it looks like a good choice for Mikuru, pretty close if you ask me. Also, the voice actress for animated Haruhi will be play her in the drama.

Ani dubbing

This is Kira posting. On the behalf of myself, Rin, and Chikyuu, we would like to set up an event for, unfortunately but unavoidable, english speaking ani-pockers. The idea that has been created is to take an anime that is japanese and do voice overs using volunteers. It would take a lot of work and I'd do my best, college and all, to make time to put it together. We believe this will be a great and fun project for pockers, and we will have made something to call our own by the end of the project. It will be something we can have for ourselves. We will host try outs for characters. If anybody has any idea for the anime please post it. It's volunteer only, but still. It could be really fun. I can't think of anything else to say.

Origami Masters: So COOL!

Obentou Display! Follow the LINK!!!

Hi! This is Rin posting for Mr. Mew! Look what Mr. Mew found and he wanted to share this all with you. It's more fashionable Obentous, but seriously check this link out, there are a lot of "Hello Kitty!" icons in them and I saw a strawberry and a chibi that looks like it could be Pocky-San. Anyway have a look and see for yourselves. Thanks Mr. Mew!Obentouuu!

Rollable, foldable e-paper screens!

Japanese robot dances with rhythm

"We are currently developing and studying dance-oriented nonverbal play with between children and the robot Keepon, designed and built by Hideki Kozima. Keepon is a small creature-like robot developed to perform emotional and attentional interaction with children. If has four degrees of freedom, a soft rubber skin, two cameras in its eyes, and a microphone in its nose."

You won't believe this!!

Reveal the Ani-Pock Community: Chikyuu!!

Thanks for the fun questions on the last episode.

Our contestant this week is: Chikyuu !!So how do you play?Here is a recap of Rin's rules!:

Every week a member is selected from the Ani-Pock Memberlist and it will be posted who that member is, then everyone else can comment under the post any questions that they want to ask about that member, but please keep in mind to keep the questions decent, indecent questions will be deleted.

Hi hi minna-san! How is your monday going? I found this very touching and powerful amv and I wanted to share it because even though it's very dramatic, it's very beautiful and the significance of keeping an open mind and accepting others couldn't be more apparent. If you haven't seen the anime, "Fruits Basket" and are planning to, DO NOT watch this amv, for there are major spoilers. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this amv.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Mospeng-kun: tissue-dispensing robot

Mospeng-kun is a tissue-dispensing robot created by InterRobot Inc., a robot development and rental company based in western Japan.

When the friendly Mospeng-kun detects a person nearby, it utters a high-pitched onegai shimasu and offers up a pack of tissues. When the tissues are taken from the robot’s hand, it thanks the customer with an arigato gozaimashita and grabs another tissue pack from the cartridge for the next person.

InterRobot’s rental fees start at 100,000 yen ($835) for 5 days, which is quite a bit more than the going rate for a human tissue distributor. But Mospeng-kun looks to be a cheerful worker, constantly maintaining a smile on its face monitor. In addition, according to the company website, Mospeng-kun is capable of gathering information about the people it encounters on the job.

Unfortunately, though, the robot really needs to learn to work faster before it is ready for the sidewalks of Shibuya.

Reveal the Ani-Pock Community: Ichigo Stars!!

Thanks for the fun questions on the last episode.

Our contestant this week is: Ichigo Stars (the evil one :D ) !!So how do you play?Here is a recap of Rin's rules!:

Every week a member is selected from the Ani-Pock Memberlist and it will be posted who that member is, then everyone else can comment under the post any questions that they want to ask about that member, but please keep in mind to keep the questions decent, indecent questions will be deleted.

Sushi people???

Japanese food themed furniture

(Via TokyoTimes.org)

For residents of Japan who choose to eschew chairs by opting for the more traditional cushion, yet at the same time find lengthy lazing about sessions somewhat uncomfortable, the commonly found cushion chair combo is an ideal compromise.

The Voice behind Pikachu!

The Japanese "Ganguro"

"Ganguro", (ガングロ) roughly means "black-face", but keep in mind though some frown at it as being a racial insult, it's function is not racial. Anyway, it is a Japanese fashion trend that emerged in the late 1990's mostly in the Shibuya and Ikebukuro districts of Tokyo.

The Ganguro fashion comprises of bleached blond hair, deep tans, black and white eyeliners or pastel-like colors, sometimes white lipstick, boots or platform shoes, a lot of accesories such as bracelets, rings, necklaces, glitter or skin gems. Clothing is usually in the style of mini-skirts, sarongs (which is kinda like a modernized toga ^.~), and a lot of flower hair clips.

No one is really sure how this fashion was inspired, some point to a western influence, but it really is unclear. Some even go as far as to say that they were inspired by African-American models or an african anime character, but that's a grave generalization. It could be a possibility, but it's hard to say.

In the Japanese culture the '"ganguro" look is frowned upon because it's deep tan conflicts against the society's ideals on feminine beauty. Ganguro girls are almost always percieved negatively by the media and the community around them. I think it looks really cool, but I don't know if I would put my reputation on the line for just a fad.

How it relates to Anime:

Have you ever seen Peach Girl? Many times in the story Momo, the main character, is referred to as a "Ganguro girl" and she gets highly offended, because her tan and bleached hair is natural from swimming. She constantly has to deal with the image of feminine beauty, but soon finds that the main conflict is coming from within herself.

*laughs* I remember when I was younger and my hair was almost platinum blond and it would turn green in the summers from swimming too much because of the chlorine.

Anyway, that's my little blog about Japanese fashion, I hope you found it enjoyable to read about. <3>

Reveal the Ani-Pock Community: Rose!!

Thanks for the fun questions on the last episode.

Our contestant this week is: Rose !!So how do you play?Here is a recap of Rin's rules!:

Every week a member is selected from the Ani-Pock Memberlist and it will be posted who that member is, then everyone else can comment under the post any questions that they want to ask about that member, but please keep in mind to keep the questions decent, indecent questions will be deleted.

If Scooby Doo was an anime...

Where exactly are all those countries?

So I know we have lots of international members, but not everyone knows exactly where those places are! We might know those countries as "over there" like... "in Europe", but where exactly?? Let Yakoo from the Anamaniacs show you! ^^

March Members~

Hey all!

TheMarch edition of the Members List is up and ready for all that you have to say!

So click-click and leave any combination of words that express you today! X3

Update: After checking comments as well as taking a look at past Member Quotes, I decided that Kami is absoutly right when he says that there are so many members that are no longer here or have changed their names like the seasons. So.... With that thought:

I'd like those who are on the members list to leave any kind of comment either here, or on the members page so you can keep your name there.

If someone would like their member name changed to whatever their current name may be, please do so.

If I don't have any kind of contact from other past members by March 10th, then I will be deleating names. >_<

Why do YOU keep coming?

You've been asked how you found Ani-Pock but why do you continue coming? And what was it like the first time you came?

I'll tell you why I keep coming. Great people like Pocky, Kami, Jess, and Maisuu~ keep me coming everyday! >:3

The first time I came I was a random stranger and no one knew me but I still came, I can't remember why I came but I guess it was cause I was bored and enjoyed watching people talk Lol. Untill I met Jess and became friends with her. Then I quickly made friends with other people like Mai, Riku, Kami, Pocky, etc etc.

Ani-Pock Birthdays

Hello Ani-Pock Community!I was either asked or told to, but its a really good idea in the whole, so here you go:May we (as in everyone) know when your birthday is?Don't you think that it would be fun to have so many people wish you joy on a day you get older, and hopefully wiser? =DJust leave a comment, and maybe Pocky will O.K. me adding it to the members list!

~*For You*~

Reveal the Ani-Pock Community: Purly!!

Thanks for the fun questions on the last episode.

Our contestant this week is: Purly !!So how do you play?Here is a recap of Rin's rules!:

Every week a member is selected from the Ani-Pock Memberlist and it will be posted who that member is, then everyone else can comment under the post any questions that they want to ask about that member, but please keep in mind to keep the questions decent, indecent questions will be deleted.

Know Your Giant Robots! The Body Count! / First Anime Awards 2007!

The robot in the last post was... well, any police Labor in Patlabor, and the short film was Minipato.

Good job to Kamisori, who guessed correctly on both questions! He wins a copy of the Minipato trailer and opening theme. They're hilarious.

Also in anime news, the First Annual Anime Awards were held this Saturday at 9:00 PM (yeah, forget the Oscars!). The entire event was streamed, filmed, and viewable at the awards website. My laptop doesn't have sound so I'll have to find out who won myself later! T.T

Make words mean something~!

I sincerely hope that nothing that is said here is taken personally, and I hope it does not come off as "holier-than-thou" or condescending. It's simply Jent sharing her thoughts.

I realize, that a lot of people that come to this site are still in high school, or not even there yet. Not to say that any of you are just a bunch of kids. Sometimes, I wish that people had let me have some insight from their own experiences. It would've made things easier for me.

I know, that here on the internet, perhaps, the only way to truly express yourself is through words. But, I feel, that words are starting to lose their meaning, and to me, that makes them less special. For example, when you say that you hate someone, that's a really STRONG word. But people throw it around like it's nothing. The same can be said for love. If you really love someone, it is a serious emotion. And when you tell someone you love them, think for a moment, about how that person is going to percieve it.

Of course, words are just words, and they can't actually hurt you physically. But, I think that it's possible to do a lot of damage with them, when considering another's feelings.

The only reason, that the words, "idiot", "retard" and "imbecile" are negative words, is because we as humans, made them that way. Years ago, they were simply medical terms, but people misused them, and turned them into something offensive.

Since we are a small community, and there are a lot of people I see on here that are dating or consider themself in a relationship with someone online, many of us, right here on the site, take a moment, and really think about what you say to that person. You may use affectionate terms casually, because you feel strongly about that person. But consider what thoughts you are really putting into that person's mind. If you really care about them, it is probably better to not rush things. You have your whole life ahead of you, and there will be a lot of people that will come in and out of your life.

The same goes for insults. Believe me, I've been guilty of them myself. There are just times, that someone is being so ignorant or disrespectful, I blurt things out that I really didn't mean. I've probably used every curse word known in the English language, atleast once. I'm not saying for one moment, that it was right. I'm owning up to my mistakes. Surely, no one is perfect.

All that I am asking, is that we all show each other a little bit of respect, when it comes to the feelings of one another.